Portable wireless mobile device motion capture and analysis system and method

ABSTRACT

Portable wireless mobile device motion capture and analysis system and method configured to display motion capture/analysis data on a mobile device. System obtains data from motion capture elements and analyzes the data. Enables unique displays associated with the user, such as 3D overlays onto images of the user to visually depict the captured motion data. Ratings associated with the captured motion can also be displayed. Predicted ball flight path data can be calculated and displayed. Data shown on a time line can also be displayed to show the relative peaks of velocity for various parts of the user&#39;s body. Based on the display of data, the user can determine the equipment that fits the best and immediately purchase the equipment, via the mobile device. Custom equipment may be ordered through an interface on the mobile device from a vendor that can assemble-to-order customer built equipment and ship the equipment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

One or more embodiments setting forth the ideas described throughoutthis disclosure pertain to the field of portable wireless mobile devicecomputer systems, motion capture elements such as visual markers andsensors utilized in the capture of motion data. More particularly, butnot by way of limitation, one or more aspects of the disclosure enable aportable wireless mobile device motion capture and analysis system andmethod.

2. Description of the Related Art

One known technique to teach effective body mechanics utilizes videorecording of an athlete and analysis of the recorded video of anathlete. This technique has various limitations including inaccurate andinconsistent subjective analysis based on video for example. Anothertechnique includes motion analysis, for example using at least twocameras to capture three-dimensional points of movement associated withan athlete. Known implementations utilize a stationary multi-camerasystem that is not portable and thus cannot be utilized outside of theenvironment where the system is installed, for example during anathletic event such as a golf tournament. These fixed installations areextremely expensive as well. Such prior techniques are summarized inU.S. Pat. No. 7,264,554, filed 26 Jan. 2006, which claims the benefit ofU.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/647,751 filed 26 Jan.2005, the specifications of which are both hereby incorporated herein byreference. Both disclosures are to the same inventor of the subjectmatter of the instant application.

There are no known portable wireless mobile device motion capture andanalysis systems. Known systems to date have required bulky sensors orsensors with wire interfaces and several fixed cameras to obtain motioncapture data. Furthermore, known systems generally utilize severalpassive or active markers or several sensors. There are no known systemsthat utilize as little as one visual marker or sensor and a mobiledevice to analyze and display motion capture data associated with a userand/or piece of equipment.

There are no known systems that allow for a group of mobile devices toshare data to form three-dimensional motion capture data bytriangulation of visual markers. There are no known systems that allowfor a mobile device without a camera to obtain images from cameras orother mobile devices with cameras to display motion capture data.

There are no known mobile motion captures systems that allow for a userto align a camera correctly along the horizontal before capture ofmotion data having horizontally aligned images.

There are no known systems that allow for motion capture elements suchas wireless sensors to seamlessly integrate or otherwise couple with agolf club, for example in the weight port of a golf club so as toprovide a wireless golf club, configured to capture motion data. Inaddition, there are no known systems that allow for motion captureelements such as wireless sensors to seamlessly integrate or couple withshoes, gloves, shirts, pants, belts, or other equipment, or a user, insuch a small format that the user is not aware that the sensors arelocated in these items.

In addition, for sports that utilize a piece of equipment and a ball,there are no known portable wireless mobile device motion capture andanalysis systems that allow the user to obtain immediate visual feedbackregarding ball flight distance, swing speed, swing efficiency of thepiece of equipment or how centered an impact of the ball is, i.e., whereon piece of equipment the collision of the ball has taken place.

In addition, there are no known systems that provide portable wirelessmobile device motion capture and analysis for equipment fitting andsubsequent point-of-sale decision making for instantaneous purchasing ofequipment that fits an athlete. Furthermore, no known systems allow forcustom order fulfillment such as assemble-to-order (ATO) for customorder fulfillment of sporting equipment, for example equipment that isbuilt to customer specifications based on portable wireless mobiledevice motion capture and analysis, and shipped to the customer tocomplete the point of sales process.

For at least the limitations described above there is a need for aportable wireless mobile device motion capture and analysis system andmethod.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention enable a portable wireless mobile devicemotion capture and analysis system and method. Utilizing this systemenables a user to perform motion capture and/or display with a mobiledevice having a visual display and an optional camera and capable ofobtaining data from at least one motion capture element such as a visualmarker and/or a wireless sensor. The system can also integrate withstandalone cameras, or cameras on multiple mobile devices. The systemalso enables the user to analyze and display the motion capture data ina variety of ways that provide immediate easy to understand graphicalinformation associated with the motion capture data. The system alsoallows the user to determine how “centered” an impact is with respect toa ball and a piece of equipment, such as a golf club for example. Thesystem also allows for fitting of equipment including shoes, clubs,etc., and immediate purchasing of the equipment even if the equipmentrequires a custom assemble-to-order request from a vendor.

For example, analyzing the data enables the presentation of uniquedisplays associated with the user, such as 3D overlays onto images ofthe body of the user to visually depict the captured motion data. Forembodiments of the invention that utilize a mobile device (or more thanone mobile device) without camera(s), sensor data may be utilized togenerate displays of the captured motion data, while the mobile devicemay optionally obtain images from other cameras or other mobile deviceswith cameras. For example, display types that may or may not utilizeimages of the user may include ratings, calculated data and time linedata. Ratings associated with the captured motion can also be displayedto the user in the form of numerical or graphical data with or without auser image, for example an “efficiency” rating. Calculated data, such asa predicted ball flight path data can be calculated and displayed on themobile device with or without utilizing images of the user's body. Datadepicted on a time line can also be displayed with or without images ofthe user to show the relative peaks of velocity for various parts of theequipment or user's body for example. Images from multiple camerasincluding multiple mobile devices, for example from a crowd of golffans, may be combined into a BULLET TIME® visual effect characterized byslow motion of the golf swing shown from around the golfer at variousangles at normal speed.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, fixed cameras such as at agolf tournament or other sporting event can be utilized with a wirelessinterface located near the player/equipment having motion captureelements so as to obtain, analyze and display motion capture data. Inthis embodiment, real-time or near real-time motion data can bedisplayed on the video for augmented video replays. An increase in theentertainment level is thus created by visually displaying how fastequipment is moving during a shot, for example with rings drawn around aplayers hips and shoulders.

Based on the display of data, the user can determine the equipment thatfits the best and immediately purchase the equipment, via the mobiledevice. For example, when deciding between two golf clubs, a user cantake swings with different clubs and based on the analysis of thecaptured motion data and quantitatively determine which club performsbetter. Custom equipment may be ordered through an interface on themobile device from a vendor that can assemble-to-order customer builtequipment and ship the equipment to the user for example. Shaft lengthsfor putters for example that are a standard length can be custom madefor a particular user based on captured motion data as a user putts withan adjustable length shaft for example.

Embodiments of the system may utilize a variety of sensor types. In oneor more embodiments of the invention, passive or active visual markersmay be utilized to capture motion of particular points on a user's bodyor equipment. This may be performed in a simply two-dimensional manneror in a three-dimensional manner if the mobile device is configured withtwo or more cameras, or if multiple cameras or mobile devices areutilized to capture images such as video and share the images in orderto create triangulated three-dimensional motion data from a set oftwo-dimensional images obtained from each camera. Another embodiment ofthe invention may utilize inertial measurement units (IMU) or any othersensors that can produce any combination of orientation, position,velocity and/or acceleration information to the mobile device. Thesensors may thus obtain data that may include any combination of one ormore values associated with orientation (vertical or North/South orboth), position (either via through Global Positioning System, i.e.,“GPS” or through triangulation), velocity (in all three axes),acceleration (in all three axes).

In one or more embodiments of the invention, a sensor may be utilizedthat includes a passive marker or active marker on an outside surface ofthe sensor, so that the sensor may also be utilized for visual tracking(either two-dimensional or three-dimensional) and for orientation,position, velocity, acceleration or any other physical quantity producedby the sensor. Visual marker embodiments of the motion captureelement(s) may be passive or active, meaning that they may either have avisual portion that is visually trackable or may include a lightemitting element such as a light emitting diode (LED) that allows forimage tracking in low light conditions.

The sensors utilized with embodiments of the invention may be mountedon, to and/or in equipment, such as shoes, pants, shirts, gloves, clubs,bats, racquets, balls, etc., and/or may be attached to a user in anypossible manner. For example, one or more embodiments of the sensor canfit into a weight port of a golf club, and/or in the handle end of thegolf club. Other embodiments may fit into the handle of, or end of, atennis racquet or baseball bat for example. One or more embodiments ofthe invention may also operate with balls that have integrated sensorsas well. Alternatively, the system may calculate the virtual flight pathof a ball that has come in contact with equipment moved by a player. Forexample with a golf club having a sensor integrated into a weight portof other portion of the end of the club striking the golf ball andhaving a second sensor located in the tip of the handle of the golfclub, or in one or more gloves worn by the player, an angle of impactcan be calculated for the club. By knowing the loft of the face of theclub, an angle of flight may be calculated for the golf ball. Inaddition, by sampling the sensor at the end of the club at a high enoughspeed to determine oscillations indicative of where on the face of theclub the golf ball was struck, a quality of impact may be determined.These types of measurements and the analysis thereof help an athleteimprove, and for fitting purposes, allow an athlete to immediatelypurchase equipment that fits correctly.

One or more embodiments of the sensor may contain charging features suchas mechanical eccentric weight, as utilized in some watches known as“automatic” or “self-winding” watches, optionally including a smallgenerator, or inductive charging coils for indirect electromechanicalcharging of the sensor power supply. Other embodiments may utilize plugsfor direct charging of the sensor power supply or electromechanical ormicroelectromechanical (MEMS) based charging elements. One or moreembodiments of the sensor may utilize power saving features includinggestures that power the sensor on or off Such gestures may includephysical switches, contact with the sensor, wireless commands to thesensor, for example from a mobile device that is associated with theparticular sensors.

A user may also view the captured motion data in a graphical form on thedisplay of the mobile device or for example on a set of glasses thatcontains a video display. The captured motion data may also be utilizedto augment a virtual reality display of user in a virtual environment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the ideasconveyed through this disclosure will be more apparent from thefollowing more particular description thereof, presented in conjunctionwith the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the system that enables a portablewireless mobile device motion capture and analysis system.

FIG. 1A shows a logical hardware block diagram of an embodiment of thecomputer.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the overall modes of the softwareprogrammed to execute on the computer of the mobile device, wherein thecomputer is configured to recognize the motion capture elements, obtaindata, analyze the data and display motion analysis data.

FIG. 3 illustrates displays associated with FIG. 2 in greater detail.

FIG. 4 illustrates and embodiment of the recognition module that isconfigured to assign particular sensors to particular locations on anathlete and/or on a piece of equipment.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the obtain data module that isconfigure to obtain data from a camera (optionally on the mobile deviceor obtain through another camera or camera on another mobile device),data from motion capture elements, i.e., any combination of visualmarkers or sensors as assigned to particular portions of the user's bodyor piece of equipment. In addition, the figure shows displays dataanalyzed by the analysis module and generated by the display module toshow either the user along with motion analysis data, or with motionanalysis data alone.

FIG. 6 illustrates a detailed drill down into the motion analysis datato display including overall efficiency, head, torso, hip, hand, club,left and right foot segment efficiencies. Embodiments of the inventionthus enable physical training specific to the area that a user needs asdetermined by the analysis module.

FIG. 7 illustrates a close up display of motion analysis data associatedwith a user, without use of an image associated with a user.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of the motion capture element thatoptionally includes a visual marker and/or sensor.

FIG. 9 illustrates a front view of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of the motion capture elementimplemented with a passive marker and gray scale images thereof to showhow the marker can be tracked by obtaining an image and searching for aluminance change from black to white.

FIG. 11 illustrates a hardware implementation of the sensor portion of amotion capture element implemented as a wireless inertial measurementunit, and an embodiment as configured to couple with a weight port of agolf club for example.

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of the motion capture element asconfigured to couple with different golf club types and a shoe.

FIG. 13 illustrates a close-up of the shoe of FIG. 12 along with apressure map of a shoe configured with a pressure matt inside the shoeconfigured to output pressure per particular areas of the shoe.

FIG. 14 illustrates an embodiment of sunglasses configured with a motioncapture element.

FIG. 15 illustrates an embodiment of a display that depicts the locationof a golf ball strike as determined by the oscillations in the golf clubface during and/or after the golf club impacts a golf ball.

FIG. 16 illustrates a camera alignment tool as utilized with embodimentsof the invention to create normalized images for capture and analysis.

FIG. 17 illustrates a balance box and center alignment line to aid incentering a user to obtain image data.

FIG. 18 illustrates a balance box and center alignment line, along withprimary and secondary shaft lines to aid in centering and analyzingimages of the user.

FIG. 19 illustrates an embodiment of the display configured to aid inclub fitting for a user, wherein a user may test multiple clubs andwherein the display shows motion analysis data. For embodiments of theinvention include purchase and order fulfillment options, buttons suchas “purchase” and “customer order” may be utilized.

FIG. 20 illustrates an embodiment of the display configured to displaymotion analysis data along with the user, some of which is overlaid ontothe user to aid in understanding the motion analysis data in a morehuman understandable format. In addition, motion analysis dataassociated with the user can be shown numerically as shown for exampleas “efficiency” of the swing, and the velocity of the swing.

FIG. 21 illustrates an embodiment of the invention configured to displaya user from multiple angles when multiple cameras are available. One ormore embodiments of the invention may show one image of the user at atime in slow motion as the user moves, while changing the angle of theview of the user in normal time, which is known as BULLET TIME®.

FIG. 22 illustrates another embodiment of the multi-angle display as isalso shown in FIG. 21 wherein this figure also includesthree-dimensional overlay graphics to aid in understanding the motionanalysis data in a more human understandable manner.

FIG. 23 shows an embodiment of the invention configured to displaymotion analysis data on a mobile computer, personal computer, IPAD® orany other computer with a display device large enough to display thedesired data.

FIG. 24 illustrates a timeline display of motion analysis data thatshows multiple sensor angular velocities in reference to the world orfor example to a portion of the piece of equipment or object to hit or avirtual spine or a boney landmark, as obtained from sensors on a userand/or on a piece of equipment.

FIG. 25 illustrates a timeline display of motion analysis data thatshows multiple sensor angular speeds obtained from multiple sensors on asecond user and on a piece of equipment. Efficient movement pattern ofbody segments know as a kinetic chain and of kinematic segmentalsequencing.

FIG. 26 illustrates a timeline display of a user along with peak andminimum angular speeds along the timeline shown as events along the timeline instead of as Y-axis data as shown in FIGS. 24 and 25. In addition,a graph showing the lead and lag of the golf club along with the droopand drift of the golf club is shown in the bottom display wherein thesevalues determine how much the golf club shaft is bending in two axes asplotted against time.

FIG. 27 illustrates a display of the calculated flight path of a ballbased on the motion analysis data wherein the display is associated withany type of computer, personal computer, IPAD® or any other type ofdisplay capable of displaying images.

FIG. 28 illustrates a display of the calculated flight path of a ballbased on motion analysis data wherein the display is coupled with amobile device.

FIG. 29 illustrates a display of a broadcast television event wherein atleast one motion capture element in the form of a motion sensor iscoupled with the golf club and optionally the user. The display can beshown in normal time after the athlete strikes the ball, or in slowmotion with motion analysis data including the three-dimensional overlayof the position of the sensor on the end of the club shown as a traceline and including the angle of the plane in which the swing takes placeversus the horizontal plane. In addition, other motion analysis data maybe shown such as the swing speed, distance (calculated or actual) andefficiency.

FIG. 30 illustrates a display of the swing path with a strobe effectwherein the golf club in this example includes sensors on the club headand hear the handle, or optionally near the hands or in the gloves ofthe user. Optionally, imaged based processing from a high speed cameramay be utilized to produce the display. The swing path for good shotscan be compared to swing paths for inaccurate shots to display thedifferences in a human understandable manner.

FIG. 31 illustrates a display of shaft efficiency as measured throughthe golf swing. For example, by obtaining motion capture data near theclub head and club handle, graphical strobe effects and motion analysisdata can show the club head speed, club handle speed and club shaftefficiency in normal time or slow motion.

FIG. 32 illustrates a display of putter head acceleration based on atleast one sensor near the putter head, for example as coupled into theweight port of a putter. The various quantities from the motion analysisdata can be displayed to aid in understanding acceleration patterns forgood putts and bad putts to help viewers understand acceleration in amore human understandable manner.

FIG. 33 illustrates a display of dynamic lie angle, wherein the lieangle of the player at address before swinging at the ball can becompared to the lie angle at impact to help the viewer understand howlie angle effects loft and ball flight.

FIG. 34 illustrates a display of shaft release, wherein the angularrelease velocity of the golf shaft is a large component of theefficiency of a swing. As shown, a display of a golfer that has sensorsnear his waist and hips and sensors on the golf club head and handle, oras determined through image processing with or without visual markers,is shown along with the motion analysis data.

FIG. 35 illustrates a display of rotational velocity wherein the faceangle, club face closure in degrees per second, the loft angle and lieangle are shown as obtained from a motion capture element on the clubhead for example.

FIG. 36 illustrates a display of historical players with motion analysisdata computed through image processing to show the performance of greatplayers.

FIG. 37 illustrates one embodiment of the equations used for predictinga golf ball flight path as used to produce displays as shown in FIGS. 27and 28.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A portable wireless mobile device motion capture and analysis system andmethod will now be described. In the following exemplary descriptionnumerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a morethorough understanding of the ideas described throughout thisspecification. It will be apparent, however, to an artisan of ordinaryskill that embodiments of ideas described herein may be practicedwithout incorporating all aspects of the specific details describedherein. In other instances, specific aspects well known to those ofordinary skill in the art have not been described in detail so as not toobscure the disclosure. Readers should note that although examples ofthe innovative concepts are set forth throughout this disclosure, theclaims, and the full scope of any equivalents, are what define theinvention.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the system that enables a portablewireless mobile device motion capture and analysis system 100. As shown,embodiments of the system generally include a mobile device 101 thatincludes computer 160, shown as located internally in mobile device 101as a dotted outline, (i.e., also see functional view of computer 160 inFIG. 1A), display 120 coupled to computer 160 and a wirelesscommunications interface (generally internal to the mobile device, seeelement 164 in FIG. 1A) coupled with the computer. The system generallyincludes at least one motion capture element 111 that couples with user150 or with piece of equipment 110, for example a golf club, or baseballbat, tennis racquet, hockey stick, or any other piece of equipment forany sport, or other sporting equipment such as a shoe, belt, gloves,glasses, hat, etc. The motion capture element may optionally include avisual marker, either passive or active, and/or may include a wirelesssensor, for example any sensor capable of providing any combination ofone or more values associated with an orientation (North/South and/orup/down), position, velocity and/or acceleration of the motion captureelement. The computer is configured to obtain data associated with theat least one motion capture element, either visually or wirelessly,analyze the data to form motion analysis data and display the motionanalysis data on display 120 of mobile device 101.

One or more embodiments of the system may utilize a mobile device thatincludes at least one camera 130, for example coupled to the computerwithin the mobile device. This allows for the computer within mobiledevice 101 to command the camera 130 to obtain an image or images, forexample of the user during an athletic movement. The image(s) of theuser may be overlaid with displays and ratings to make the motionanalysis data more understandable to a human for example. Alternatively,detailed data displays without images of the user may also be displayedon display 120 or for example on the display of computer 105. In thismanner two-dimensional images and subsequent display thereof is enabled.If mobile device 101 contains two cameras, as shown in mobile device102, i.e., cameras 130 a and 130 b, then the cameras may be utilized tocreate a three-dimensional data set through image analysis of the visualmarkers for example. This allows for distances and positions of visualmarkers to be ascertained and analyzed.

Alternatively, for embodiments of mobile devices that have only onecamera, multiple mobile devices may be utilized to obtaintwo-dimensional data in the form of images that is triangulated todetermine the positions of visual markers. In one or more embodiments ofthe invention, mobile device 101 and mobile device 102 a share imagedata of user 150 to create three-dimensional motion analysis data. Bydetermining the positions of mobile devices 101 and 102 (via GPS chipsin the devices as is common, or via cell tower triangulation), and byobtaining data from motion capture element 111 for example locations ofpixels in the images where the visual markers are in each image,distances and hence speeds are readily obtained as one skilled in theart will recognize.

Camera 103 may also be utilized either for still images or as is nowcommon, for video. In embodiments of the invention that utilize externalcameras, any method of obtaining data from the external camera is inkeeping with the spirit of the invention including wirelesscommunication of the data, or via wired communication as when camera 103is docked with computer 105 for example, which then may transfer thedata to mobile device 101.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, the mobile device on whichthe motion analysis data is displayed is not required to have a camera,i.e., mobile device 102 b may display data even though it is notconfigured with a camera. As such, mobile device 102 b may obtain imagesfrom any combination of cameras on mobile device 101, 102, 102 a, camera103 and/or television camera 104 so long as any external camera maycommunicate images to mobile device 102 b.

For television broadcasts, motion capture element 111 wirelesslytransmits data that is received by antenna 106. The wireless sensor datathus obtained from motion capture element 111 is combined with theimages obtained from television camera 104 to produce displays withaugmented motion analysis data that can be broadcast to televisions,computers such as computer 105, mobile devices 101, 102, 102 a, 102 b orany other device configured to display images. The motion analysis datacan be positioned on display 120 for example by knowing the location ofa camera (for example via GPS information), and by knowing the directionand/or orientation that the camera is pointing so long as the sensordata includes location data (for example GPS information). In otherembodiments, visual markers or image processing may be utilized to lockthe motion analysis data to the image, e.g., the golf club head can betracked in the images and the corresponding high, middle and lowposition of the club can be utilized to determine the orientation ofuser 150 to camera 130 or 104 or 103 for example to correctly plot theaugmented data onto the image of user 150. Any other algorithm forproperly positioning the motion analysis data on display 120 withrespect to a user (or any other display such as on computer 105) may beutilized in keeping with the spirit of the invention.

One such display that may be generated and displayed on mobile device101 include a BULLET TIME® view using two or more cameras selected frommobile devices 101, 102, 102 a, camera 103, and/or television camera 104or any other external camera. In this embodiment of the system, thecomputer is configured to obtain two or more images of user 150 and dataassociated with the at least one motion capture element (whether avisual marker or wireless sensor), wherein the two or more images areobtained from two or more cameras and wherein the computer is configuredto generate a display that shows slow motion of user 150 shown fromaround the user at various angles at normal speed. Such an embodimentfor example allows a group of fans to create their own BULLET TIME® shotof a golf pro at a tournament for example. The shots may be sent tocomputer 105 and any image processing required may be performed oncomputer 105 and broadcast to a television audience for example. Inother embodiments of the invention, the users of the various mobiledevices share their own set of images, and or upload their shots to awebsite for later viewing for example.

FIG. 1A shows an embodiment of computer 160. In computer 160 includesprocessor 161 that executes software modules, generally stored ascomputer program instructions within main memory 162. Display interface163 drives display 120 of mobile device 101 as shown in FIG. 1. Optionalorientation/position module 167 may include a North/South or up/downorientation chip or both. Communication interface 164 may includewireless or wired communications hardware protocol chips. In one or moreembodiments of the invention communication interface may includetelephonic and/or data communications hardware. In one or moreembodiments communication interface 164 may include a Wi-Fi™ and/orBLUETOOTH™ wireless communications interface. Bluetooth class 1 deviceshave a range of approximately 100 meters, class 2 devices have a rangeof approximately 10 meters. Any wireless network protocol or type may beutilized in embodiments of the invention so long as mobile device 101and motion capture element 111 can communicate with one another.Processor 161, main memory 162, display interface 163, communicationinterface 164 and orientation/position module 167 may communicate withone another over communication infrastructure 165, which is commonlyknown as a “bus”. Communications path 166 may include wired or wirelessmedium that allows for communication with other wired or wirelessdevices over network 170. Network 170 may communicate with Internet 171and/or database 172. Database 172 may be utilized to save or retrieveimages or videos of users, or motion analysis data, or users displayedwith motion analysis data in one form or another.

To ensure that analysis of user 150 during a motion capture includesimages that are relatively associated with the horizon, i.e., nottilted, the system may include an orientation module that executes oncomputer 160 within mobile device 101 for example. The computer isconfigured to prompt a user to align the camera along a horizontal planebased on orientation data obtained from orientation hardware withinmobile device 101. Orientation hardware is common on mobile devices asone skilled in the art will appreciate. This allows the image socaptured to remain relatively level with respect to the horizontalplane. The orientation module may also prompt the user to move thecamera toward or away from the user, or zoom in or out to the user toplace the user within a graphical “fit box”, to somewhat normalize thesize of the user to be captured.

Embodiments of the system are further configured to recognize the atleast one motion capture element associated with user 150 or piece ofequipment 110 and associate at least one motion capture element 111 withassigned locations on user 150 or piece of equipment 110. For example,the user can shake a particular motion capture element when prompted bythe computer within mobile device 101 to acknowledge which motioncapture element the computer is requesting an identity for.

One or more embodiments of the computer in mobile device 101 isconfigured to obtain at least one image of user 150 and display athree-dimensional overlay onto the at least one image of user 150wherein the three-dimensional overlay is associated with the motionanalysis data. Various displays may be displayed on display 120. Thedisplay of motion analysis data may include a rating associated with themotion analysis data, and/or a display of a calculated ball flight pathassociated with the motion analysis data and/or a display of a time lineshowing points in time along a time axis where peak values associatedwith the motion analysis data occur and/or a suggest training regimen toaid the user in improving mechanics of the user.

Embodiments of the system may also present an interface to enable user150 to purchase piece of equipment 110 over the wireless interface ofmobile device 101, for example via the Internet, or via computer 105which may be implemented as a server of a vendor. In addition, forcustom fitting equipment, such as putter shaft lengths, or any othercustom sizing of any type of equipment, embodiments of the system maypresent an interface to enable user 150 to order a customer fitted pieceof equipment over the wireless interface of mobile device 101.

Embodiments of the system are configured to analyze the data obtainedfrom at least one motion capture element and determine how centered acollision between a ball and the piece of equipment is based onoscillations of the at least one motion capture element coupled with thepiece of equipment and display an impact location based on the motionanalysis data.

While FIG. 1A depicts a physical device, the scope of the systems andmethods set forth herein may also encompass a virtual device, virtualmachine or simulator embodied in one or more computer programs executingon a computer or computer system and acting or providing a computersystem environment compatible with the methods and processesimplementing the disclosed ideas. Where a virtual machine, process,device or otherwise performs substantially similarly to that of aphysical computer system of the invention, such a virtual platform willalso fall within the scope of a system of the disclosure,notwithstanding the description herein of a physical system such as thatin FIG. 1A.

Although system 100 is shown with an exemplary user 150 playing golf,one skilled in the art will appreciate that any user in moving in anyway and/or playing any sport using any piece of equipment may utilizeembodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the overall modes of the softwareprogrammed to execute on the computer of the mobile device, wherein thecomputer is configured to optionally recognize the motion captureelements, obtain data, analyze the data and display motion analysisdata. Mode 201 shows mobile device 101 having display 120 that displaysa user with highlighted points on the user and/or piece of equipment. Inthis mode, each sensor is identified and assigned one by one to aparticular area of the user or piece of equipment so as to recognizewhich sensors correspond to which movements of the user and/or piece ofequipment. Mode 202 is the mode where the computer in mobile deviceobtains data associated with at least one motion capture element asrecognized in mode 201. Mode 203 is the mode where the data is analyzedto form motion analysis data and display the motion analysis dataoptionally in conjunction with at least one image of the user. Mode 204is the mode where the motion analysis data and optional at least oneimage of the user is saved, or retrieved to display at a later time.

FIG. 3 illustrates displays associated with FIG. 2 in greater detail.Mode 201 includes sub-modes 201 a where each motion capture element isasserted, moved, switched on or other wise identified. Sub-mode 201 ballows for assignment of the motion capture element so asserted to aparticular body part of the user, or a location on the piece ofequipment. Mode 202 includes sub-modes 202 a where the computer obtainsdata associated with at least one motion capture element, either viaimage capture of one or more motion capture elements implemented asvisual markers, or via wireless sensors, or both visual markers andwireless sensors. Mode 203 includes sub-mode 203 a where main motionanalysis data items may be displayed, and sub-mode 203 b where detailedmotion analysis data items may be displayed. Mode 204 shows selection ofan archive name to store archive motion capture data, i.e., the motionanalysis data and any images of the user. Mode 204 also allows forretrieval of an archived motion capture data by selected a list item onthe display of the mobile device. In one or more embodiments, the motioncapture archived data may be stored on the mobile device or remotely oncomputer 105, or in database 172 accessed via network 170 and/or viaInternet 171.

FIG. 4 illustrates and embodiment of the recognition module that isconfigured to assign particular sensors to particular locations on anathlete and/or on a piece of equipment. In this simplified interface formode 201, a mobile application is selected from the interface in the farleft screen shot that then displays a number of activities or sportsthat can be motion captured by embodiments of the invention. Selectingthe desired sport via a finger gesture or any other manner in thisdisplay shows sub-mode screen 201 c that allows for the assignment ofsensors to areas of the user's body, and/or sub-mode screen 201 d thatallows for the assignment of sensors to areas on the equipment for theparticular sport selected in the second screen from the left in thefigure.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the obtain data module that isconfigure to obtain data from a camera (optionally on the mobile deviceor obtain through another camera or camera on another mobile device)through asserting the “start” button on the display. Any other method ofinitiating the computer within the mobile device to obtain data is inkeeping with the spirit of the invention including user gestures such asmoving the piece of equipment in a particular manner or in any otherway. This is shown as sub-mode 202 a. When motion data capture is to beterminated, any user gesture may be performed via the display of themobile device, via the piece of equipment or via audio input to themobile device for example. Any other method of informing the computer tono longer obtain data is in keeping with the spirit of the invention.Sub-mode 203 a where main motion analysis data items may be displayed,and sub-mode 203 b where detailed motion analysis data items may bedisplayed are shown with “close” buttons, so that the data can beignored for example. In addition, a slider in sub-mode 203 a allows forprecise control of the speed and/or location of the playback so thatslow motion analysis may be utilized to better understand the analysisand display of motion analysis data. In addition, the figure showsdisplays data analyzed by the analysis module and generated by thedisplay module to show either the user along with motion analysis data,or with motion analysis data alone. Double clicking or tapping on adetailed item may optionally display a list of exercises that a user mayperform to increase the user's performance.

FIG. 6 illustrates a detailed drill down into the motion analysis datato display including overall efficiency, head, torso, hip, hand, club,left and right foot segment efficiencies. Embodiments of the inventionthus enable physical training specific to the area that a user needs asdetermined by the analysis module. For example, asserting, doubleclicking or tapping, or clicking on the “training” button on the bottomof each efficiency screen as shown may display video, audio, or a listof exercises that a user may perform to increase the user's performancespecific to that segment. In addition, by asserting the “fitting” buttonon each segment display, a detailed list of pieces of equipment that mayperform better for the user based on the motion analysis data may beviewed. For example, if the user is swing too stiff of a golf club, thenthe golf club may be taking power out of the swing by slowing downbefore impacting a golf ball, while a more flexible shaft would speed upbefore impacting a golf ball. By asserting the “fitting” button, andbased on the motion analysis data, for example club head speed or ifmultiple sensors are fitted on the shaft, then by the flexing of theshaft, then alternate golf clubs may be displayed to the user. The usermay then press the purchase button, as will be detailed later, topurchase or custom order equipment that is better suited to the user.

FIG. 7 illustrates a close up display of motion analysis data associatedwith a user, without use of an image associated with a user. In thisclose-up of sub-mode 203 b, the efficiency, swing speed, release speed,face alignment angle and other quantities associated with the motionanalysis data are displayed. Any data that is obtained or that can beanalyzed and derived may be displayed.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of the motion capture element thatoptionally includes a visual marker and/or sensor. One or moreembodiments of the sensors are small, for example 12 mm or less indiameter and 4 mm or less thick in one embodiment. In addition, thesensors are inexpensive, lightweight, for example less than 5 grams inone or more embodiments. The sensors may utilize known wirelesscommunications protocols such as BLUETOOTH™ with a range ofapproximately 10 meters for Bluetooth class 2, or 100 meters forBluetooth class 1. Embodiments of the sensor may sample at 1200 timesper second or higher or lower depending on the desired performancerequirements. The sensors may be sealed for water resistance or proofingand while some embodiments may be opened, for example to replace abattery held inside the sensor housing. Any other sensor havingdimensions or capabilities that allow for measurement of any combinationof one or more of orientation, position, velocity and/or accelerationthat may couple to a piece of equipment or user may be utilized in oneor more embodiments as a motion capture element.

FIG. 9 illustrates a front view of FIG. 8. In this figure, the visualmarker is shown from above and signifies an instrumented user. Thecontrast between black and white allows for ease of capture.

FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of motion capture element 111implemented with a single white circle on a black passive marker andgray scale images thereof to show how the marker can be tracked byobtaining an image and searching for a luminance change from black towhite as shown at point 1001. Any other image processing algorithm maybe utilized to find an embodiment of the motion capture element withinan image as one skilled in the art will recognize, for example based ona color difference or gradient detected in an image in the area of anembodiment of motion capture element 111.

FIG. 11 illustrates a hardware implementation of the sensor portion of amotion capture element implemented as a wireless inertial measurementunit, and an embodiment as configured to couple with a weight port of agolf club for example. Printed circuit board (PCB) may be utilized tohold the various components of the sensor including any orientation,position, velocity and/or accelerometers. Hole 1101 may be utilized as ascrew hole or other coupling point for coupling motion capture element111 to a piece of equipment, such as into a weight port of a golf club.Alternatively, threads at location 1102 or at location 1103 may beutilized to screw motion capture element 111 onto the piece ofequipment. Any other method of coupling motion capture element to apiece of equipment or user is in keeping with the spirit of theinvention. Embodiments of the invention may also be placed in the handleof a golf club, or in any other piece of equipment.

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of the motion capture element asconfigured to couple with different golf club types and a shoe. As shownin the leftmost figure, motion capture element 111 can couple directlyto a piece of equipment such as a golf club in the rear portion of theclub head. As the second from left figure illustrates, motion captureelement 111 may couple onto the bottom of a piece of equipment, such asa golf putter. In addition, as the third figure from the leftillustrates, motion capture element 111 may couple into the weight portof a piece of equipment, such as a driver. Furthermore, motion captureelement may couple with a piece of equipment that is worn by the user,effectively coupling with the user as shown in the rightmost figure.

FIG. 13 illustrates a close-up of the shoe of FIG. 12 along with apressure map of a shoe configured with a pressure matt inside the shoeconfigured to output pressure per particular areas of the shoe. In thisembodiment, motion capture element may also interface to a pressuresensing mat capable of producing pressure map 1301 from inside of theshoe and relay the pressure information to the mobile device foranalysis. Alternatively, pressure sensors may be placed through theshoe, for example in a grid, to provide weight bearing information tothe mobile device, for example wirelessly via the motion captureelement. Each pressure sensor may couple to a transceiver or contain itsown transceiver, or couple via wires or wirelessly to the motion captureelement in order to transmit pressure data, for example to display ondisplay 120. By color coding the map and displaying the map on display120, a color graphic rating is thus obtained, which may includenumerical ratings of the pressure signature when compared to savedpressure maps which resulted in good swings for example.

FIG. 14 illustrates an embodiment of sunglasses configured with a motioncapture element. In addition, the sunglasses may also include a videoviewing device that may be utilized for display 120 so that the user maywatch images of the user with motion analysis data via the sunglasses.In this manner, any computer 160, 105, or any other computer coupled tonetwork 170 or Internet 171 may be utilized to obtain data and analyzedata so that the resulting motion analysis data may be displayed on thesunglasses.

FIG. 15 illustrates an embodiment of a display that depicts the locationof a golf ball strike as determined by the oscillations in the golf clubface during and/or after the golf club impacts a golf ball. In one ormore embodiments of the invention, if the golf ball impacts the club atlocation 1501, then a particular frequency response is obtained viaorientation or velocity sensors in motion capture element 111 that iscoupled with the club shown. If the golf ball impacts the club atlocation 1502, then a distinct frequency response is obtained via themotion capture element 111 coupled to the club. One embodiment fordetermining where a ball impacts a club involves recording impacts froma variety of locations at a range of speeds and using the resultingfrequency responses to determine which one is the closest to the impactdetected Impacts that occur high or low on the club face tend to producea vertical axis oscillation of greater amplitude than impacts that occurat location 1501. Impacts that occur closer to the shaft tend to producelower amplitude oscillations in the horizontal axis than impacts thatoccur further from the shaft. Hence, another method for determiningimpact is to form a ratio of the amplitude of horizontal to verticalaxis frequency amplitude and then search for the closest match from asaved set of impact frequency responses and retrieve the x and ylocations on the club face where the closest match has occurred. Inanother embodiment of the invention, a series of impacts is recording atthe center of the club and at 4 points away from the center along thepositive x axis, (away from the shaft), positive z axis (above thecenter point of the face), negative x axis (near the shaft) and negativez axis (below the center point of the face) wherein the motion captureelement transmits x, y and z velocities associated with the impact. Thevelocities are converted into the frequency domain and saved. Then, whendetermining an impact location for a test swing, an interpolationbetween the impact in question and the center point and 4 other pointsis performed to determine the location of the impact. Any other methodof determining the impact location that does not require other sensorsbesides the motion capture element coupled to the club is in keepingwith the spirit of the invention.

FIG. 16 illustrates a camera alignment tool as utilized with embodimentsof the invention to create normalized images for capture and analysis.In this figure, level lines 1601 are shown that for example becomebrighter when the mobile device is level. Any other manner of displayingthat the mobile device is level may also be utilized. FIG. 17illustrates a balance box and center alignment line to aid in centeringa user to obtain image data. FIG. 18 illustrates a balance box andcenter alignment line, along with primary and secondary shaft lines toaid in centering and analyzing images of the user for use in capturingdata from the side of the user. Once the user is centered, the computermay obtain data and images that are normalized to the horizontal plane.

FIG. 19 illustrates an embodiment of the display configured to aid inclub fitting for a user, wherein a user may test multiple clubs andwherein the display shows motion analysis data. For embodiments of theinvention that include purchase and order fulfillment options, buttonssuch as “purchase” and “customer order” may be utilized. Alternatively,a “buy” button 1902 may be shown in “club fitting” mode 1901 thatenables a user to buy or custom order a custom club that the user isworking with.

FIG. 20 illustrates an embodiment of the display configured to displaymotion analysis data along with the user, some of which is overlaid ontothe user to aid in understanding the motion analysis data in a morehuman understandable format. For example, rotation rings 2003 may beshown overlaid on one or more images of the user to shown the angle ofthe axis of rotation of portions of the user's body, such as shouldersand hips. In addition, motion analysis data associated with the user canbe shown numerically as shown for example as “efficiency” of the swing2002, and velocity of the swing 2001.

FIG. 21 illustrates an embodiment of the invention configured to displaya user from multiple angles 2101 when multiple cameras are available.Any algorithm that may process images to eliminate backgrounds forexample may be utilized to show multiple instances of the user on onebackground. Alternatively, one or more embodiments of the invention mayshow one image of the user at a time in slow motion as the user moves,while changing the angle of the view of the user in normal time, whichis known as BULLET TIME®.

FIG. 22 illustrates another embodiment of the multi-angle display as isalso shown in FIG. 21. This figure also includes three-dimensionaloverlay graphics 2201 to aid in understanding the motion analysis datain a more human understandable manner. Second instance of the user 2202may or may not be shown with the same overlay from a different angle.

FIG. 23 shows an embodiment of the invention configured to displaymotion analysis data on a mobile computer, personal computer, IPAD® orany other computer with a display device large enough to display thedesired data.

In any embodiments detailed herein, efficiency may be calculated in avariety of ways and displayed. For embodiments of the invention thatutilize one motion capture element, then the motion capture elementassociated with the club head may be utilized to calculate theefficiency. In one or more embodiments of the invention, efficiency maybe calculated as:Efficiency=(90−angle of club face with respect to direction oftravel)*Vc/Vmax

As more sensors are added further from the piece of equipment, such asin this case a club, the more refined the efficiency calculation may be.FIG. 24 illustrates a timeline display of motion analysis data thatshows multiple sensor angular speeds obtained from multiple sensors on auser and on a piece of equipment. FIG. 25 illustrates a timeline displayof angular speed of a second user. One or more embodiments of theinvention may calculate an efficiency based on relative times of thepeaks of the hips, shoulders, arms and club for example. In one or moreembodiments of the invention utilizing more than one motion captureelement, for example on the arms and club, the angular velocity Wa ofthe arms is divided by the angular velocity Wc of the club calculateefficiency with more information. By obtaining a large number oftimelines from various professional athletes and determining averageamplitudes of angular velocities of various body parts and/or timings,then more refined versions of the efficiency equation may be created andutilized.Efficiency=(90−angle of club face with respect to direction oftravel)*Vc/Vmax*Wa/Wc*1.2

FIG. 26 illustrates a timeline display of a user along with peak andminimum angular speeds along the timeline shown as events along the timeline instead of as Y-axis data as shown in FIGS. 24 and 25. In thisunique view, the points in time where the peaks of the graphs of FIGS.24 and 25 are shown as colored boxes that correspond to the colors ofthe graphs in FIGS. 24 and 25, yet in a more human understandable formatthat shows the relative timing of the peaks. In addition, at the bottomof FIG. 26 a graph showing the lead and lag of the golf club along withthe droop and drift of the golf club is shown wherein these valuesdetermine how much the golf club shaft is bending in two axes as plottedagainst time.

One or more embodiments of the invention may analyze the peaks and/ortiming of the peaks in order to determine a list of exercises to provideto a user to improve the mechanics of the user. For example, if the armsare rotating too late or with not enough speed, a list can be providedto the user such as:

TABLE 1 Arm Speed Exercise 1000-1500 degrees/sec Impact Bag Drawbacks1501-1750 degrees/sec Drawbacks 1751-2000 degrees/sec No drills

The list of exercises may include any exercises for any body part andmay displayed on display 120. For example, by asserting the “Training”button on the displays shown in FIG. 6, a corresponding body part listof exercises may be displayed on display 120.

FIG. 27 illustrates a display of the calculated flight path 2701 of aball based on the motion analysis data wherein the display is associatedwith any type of computer, personal computer, IPAD® or any other type ofdisplay capable of displaying images. FIG. 28 illustrates a display ofthe calculated flight path 2801 of a ball based on motion analysis datawherein the display is coupled with a mobile device. After a swing of agolf club, and based on the club head speed as determined by motioncapture element 111, the loft of the club and the angle at which theclub strikes the ball (meaning that there is another motion captureelement in the handle or near the hands of the user), a flight path maybe calculated and displayed. Any model may be utilized as is known inthe art to calculate the trajectory based on the club velocity asmeasure via motion capture element 111, one such model is described in apaper by MacDonald and Hanzely, “The physics of the drive in golf”, Am.J. Phys 59 (3) 213-218 (1991). See FIG. 37 for one embodiment of theequation used to calculate the accelerations in the x, y and z axeswherein:

x=laterally sideways (right is positive, left is negative)

y=down the fairway (always positive)

z=vertically upwards (up is positive, down is negative)

B=a constant dependent on the conditions of the air, an appropriatevalue=0.00512

u=vector of relative velocity between the ball and the air (i.e. wind),u=v−v_(w)

Cd=coefficient of drag which depends on the speed and spin of the ball

Cl=coefficient of drag which depends on the speed and spin of the ball

a=the angle between the vertical and the axis of rotation of thespinning ball

g=the acceleration due to gravity=32.16 ft/s2

A numerical form of the equations may be utilized to calculate theflight path for small increments of time assuming no wind and a spinaxis of 0.1 radians or 5.72 degrees is as follows:xacceleration=−0.00512*(vx^2+vy^2+vz^2)^(1/2)*((46.0/(vx^2+vy^2+vz^2)^(1/2))*(vx)+(33.4/(vx^2+vy^2+vz^2)^(1/2))*(vy)*sin(0.1))yacceleration=−0.00512*(vx^2+vy^2+vz^2)^(1/2)*((46.0/(vx^2+vy^2+vz^2)^(1/2))*(vy)−(33.4/(vx^2+vy^2+vz^2)^(1/2))*((vx)*sin(0.1)−(vz)*cos(0.1)))zacceleration=−32.16−0.00512*(vx^2+vy^2+vz^2)^(1/2)*((46.0/(vx^2+vy^2+vz^2)^(1/2))*(vz)−(33.4/(vx^2+vy^2+vz^2)^(1/2))*(vy)*cos(0.1))

FIG. 29 illustrates a display of a broadcast television event wherein atleast one motion capture element in the form of a motion sensor iscoupled with the golf club and optionally the user. The display can beshown in normal time after the athlete strikes the ball, or in slowmotion with motion analysis data including the three-dimensional overlayof the position of the sensor on the end of the club shown as a traceline and including the angle of the plane 2901 in which the swing takesplace versus the horizontal plane. In addition, other motion analysisdata may be shown such as the swing speed 2902, distance (calculated oractual) and efficiency 2903.

FIG. 30 illustrates a display of the swing path with a strobe effectwherein the golf club in this example includes sensors on the club headand near the handle, or optionally near the hands or in the gloves ofthe user. Optionally, imaged based processing from a high speed cameramay be utilized to produce the display. A line or captured portion ofthe actual shaft from images may be displayed at angle 3001, 3002 and3003 for example. The swing path for good shots can be compared to swingpaths for inaccurate shots to display the differences in a humanunderstandable manner.

FIG. 31 illustrates a display of shaft efficiency 3105 as measuredthrough the golf swing. For example, by obtaining motion capture datanear the club head and club handle, graphical strobe effects and motionanalysis data can show the club head through time at 3101, 3102, 3103and 3104 and also display speed, club handle speed and club shaftefficiency at 3106 in normal time or slow motion.

FIG. 32 illustrates a display of putter head speed and/or accelerationbased on at least one sensor near the putter head, for example ascoupled into the weight port of a putter. The various quantities fromthe motion analysis data can be displayed at 3201 to aid inunderstanding speed and/or acceleration patterns for good putts and badputts to help viewers understand speed and/or acceleration in a morehuman understandable manner.

FIG. 33 illustrates a display of dynamic lie angle, wherein the lieangle of the player at address 3302 before swinging at the ball can becompared to the lie angle at impact 3301 to help the viewer understandhow lie angle effects loft and ball flight, while quantitatively showingthe values at 3303.

FIG. 34 illustrates a display of shaft release, wherein the angularrelease velocity of the golf shaft is a large component of theefficiency of a swing. As shown, a display of a golfer that has sensorsnear his waist and hips (to produce spine angle 3402) and sensors on thegolf club head and handle (to produce shaft angle 3401), or asdetermined through image processing with or without visual markers, isshown along with the motion analysis data including club shaft releasein degrees per second at 3403.

FIG. 35 illustrates a display of rotational velocity wherein the faceangle, club face closure in degrees per second, the loft angle and lieangle are determined from a motion capture sensor coupled with the clubhead for example and numerically shown at 3501.

FIG. 36 illustrates a display of historical players with motion analysisdata computed through image processing to show the performance of greatplayers. By tracing and determining the locations of two points 3601 and3602 on each player's golf club as shown and knowing the height of theplayers and/or lengths of their clubs and angle at which the imageswhere taken, distances and thus velocities of the golf clubs may bedetermined to calculate numerical values as shown at 3603.

FIG. 37 illustrates one embodiment of the equations used for predictinga golf ball flight path as used to produce displays as shown in FIGS. 27and 28.

While the ideas herein disclosed has been described by means of specificembodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications andvariations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable wireless mobile device motion captureand analysis system comprising: at least one motion capture elementconfigured to couple with a user or piece of equipment wherein said atleast one motion capture element comprises a memory; a sensor configuredto capture any combination of values associated with an orientation,position, velocity, acceleration of said at least one motion captureelement; a radio; a microcontroller coupled with said memory, saidsensor and said radio wherein said microcontroller is configured tocollect data that comprises sensor values from said sensor; store saiddata in said memory; transmit said data via said radio; a mobile devicecomprising a computer; a display coupled with said computer; a wirelesscommunication interface coupled with said computer wherein said wirelesscommunication interface is configured to communicate with said radio toobtain said data; said computer configured to display a location wheresaid at least one motion capture element is currently placed or is to beplaced on said user or said piece of equipment; prompt said user to movesaid at least one motion capture element that is currently placed or isto be placed on said location on said user or on said piece of equipmentto associate said at least one motion capture element with assignedlocations on the user's body or on said piece of equipment toacknowledge which motion capture of said at least one motion captureelement said computer is requesting identify for; accept said datacomprising an identity from said at least one motion capture element;obtain said identity of a particular motion capture element based onsaid data; assign said identity of said particular motion captureelement to said location where said at least one motion capture elementis currently placed or is to be placed on said user or on said piece ofequipment based on said user moving said at least one motion captureelement from said prompt; obtain data comprising said sensor valuesassociated with said at least one motion capture element after said atleast one motion capture element is placed on said user or on said pieceof equipment; analyze said data to form motion analysis data; displaysaid motion analysis data on said display.
 2. The portable wirelessmobile device motion capture and analysis system of claim 1 wherein saidwireless communication interface is further configured to communicate adatabase remote to said mobile device and wherein said computer isfurther configured to store said data, or said motion analysis data, orboth said data and said motion analysis data in said database remote tosaid mobile device.
 3. The portable wireless mobile device motioncapture and analysis system of claim 1 wherein said analyze is performedto determine how centered a collision between a ball and said piece ofequipment is based on oscillations of said at least one motion captureelement coupled with said piece of equipment and display an impactlocation based on said motion analysis data.
 4. The portable wirelessmobile device motion capture and analysis system of claim 1 wherein saidmobile device comprises at least one camera coupled with said computerand wherein said computer is configured to command said at least onecamera to capture one or more images of said user and/or said at leastone motion capture element in order to obtain said data.
 5. The portablewireless mobile device motion capture and analysis system of claim 4further comprising one or more cameras external to said mobile devicewherein said computer is configured to obtain one or more images of saiduser and/or said at least one motion capture element from said one ormore cameras external to said mobile device and wherein said computer isconfigured to analyze said data comprises said computer furtherconfigured to form three-dimensional data from positions associated withsaid at least one motion capture element as obtained from said cameraand said one or more cameras external to said mobile device.
 6. Theportable wireless mobile device motion capture and analysis system ofclaim 1 further comprising two or more cameras external to said mobiledevice, wherein said computer is configured to obtain two or more imagesof said user and/or said at least one motion capture element from saidtwo or more cameras external to said mobile device and wherein saidcomputer is configured to analyze said data comprises said computerfurther configured to form three-dimensional data from positionsassociated with said at least one motion capture element as obtainedfrom said two or more cameras external to said mobile device.
 7. Theportable wireless mobile device motion capture and analysis system ofclaim 1 further comprising two or more cameras wherein said computer isconfigured to obtain two or more images of said user and data associatedwith said at least one motion capture element, wherein said two or moreimages are obtained from said two or more cameras and wherein saidcomputer is configured to generate a display that shows slow motion ofthe user shown from around the user at various angles at normal speed.8. The portable wireless mobile device motion capture and analysissystem of claim 4 further comprising a orientation module in said mobiledevice and coupled with said computer wherein said computer isconfigured to prompt said user to align said at least one camera along ahorizontal plane based on orientation data obtained from saidorientation module.
 9. The portable wireless mobile device motioncapture and analysis system of claim 1 wherein said computer isconfigured to obtain at least one image of said user and wherein saiddisplay of said motion analysis comprises display of a three-dimensionaloverlay onto said at least one image of said user wherein saidthree-dimensional overlay is associated with said motion analysis data.10. The portable wireless mobile device motion capture and analysissystem of claim 1 wherein said display of said motion analysis comprisesdisplay of a rating associated with said motion analysis data.
 11. Theportable wireless mobile device motion capture and analysis system ofclaim 1 wherein said display of said motion analysis comprises displayof a calculated ball flight path associated with said motion analysisdata.
 12. The portable wireless mobile device motion capture andanalysis system of claim 1 wherein said display of said motion analysiscomprises display of a time line showing points in time along a timeaxis where peak values associated with said motion analysis data occur.13. The portable wireless mobile device motion capture and analysissystem of claim 1 wherein said display of said motion analysis comprisesdisplay of a suggest training regimen to aid said user in improvingmechanics of said user.
 14. The portable wireless mobile device motioncapture and analysis system of claim 1 wherein said computer is furtherconfigured to present an interface to enable said user to purchase saidpiece of equipment over said wireless interface or order a customerfitted piece of equipment over said wireless interface.
 15. A portablewireless mobile device motion capture and analysis system comprising: atleast one motion capture element configured to couple with a user orpiece of equipment wherein said at least one motion capture elementcomprises a memory; a sensor configured to capture any combination ofvalues associated with an orientation, position, velocity, accelerationof said at least one motion capture element; a radio; a microcontrollercoupled with said memory, said sensor and said radio wherein saidmicrocontroller is configured to collect data that comprises sensorvalues from said sensor; store said data in said memory; transmit saiddata via said radio; a mobile device comprising a computer; a displaycoupled with said computer; at least one camera coupled with saidcomputer a wireless communication interface coupled with said computerwherein said wireless communication interface is configured tocommunicate with said radio to obtain said data; said computerconfigured to display a location where said at least one motion captureelement is currently placed or is to be placed on said piece ofequipment; prompt said user to move said at least one motion captureelement that is currently placed or is to be placed on said location onsaid user or on said piece of equipment to associate said at least onemotion capture element with assigned locations on the user's body or onsaid piece of equipment to acknowledge which motion capture of said atleast one motion capture element said computer is requesting identityfor; accept said data comprising an identity from said at least onemotion capture element; obtain said identity of a particular motioncapture element based on said data; assign said identity of saidparticular motion capture element to said location where said at leastone motion capture element is currently placed or is to be placed onsaid user or on said piece of equipment based on said user moving saidat least one motion capture element from said prompt; command said atleast one camera to capture one or more images of said user; obtain datacomprising said sensor values associated with said at least one motioncapture element after said at least one motion capture element is placedon said user or on said piece of equipment; analyze said data to formmotion analysis data; display said motion analysis data on said displayin the form of any combination of one or more of a three-dimensionaloverlay onto at least one of said one or more images of said user, arating, a calculated ball flight path, a time line showing points intime along a time axis where peak values occur, an impact location of aball on said piece of equipment, a slow motion display of the user shownfrom around the user at various angles at normal speed; present aninterface to enable said user to purchase said piece of equipment ororder a custom fitted piece of equipment over said wireless interface.16. The portable wireless mobile device motion capture and analysissystem of claim 15 wherein said wireless communication interface isfurther configured to communicate a database remote to said mobiledevice and wherein said computer is further configured to store saiddata, or said motion analysis data, or both said data and said motionanalysis data in said database remote to said mobile device.
 17. Theportable wireless mobile device motion capture and analysis system ofclaim 15 wherein said analyze is performed to determine how centered acollision between a ball and said piece of equipment is based onoscillations of said at least one motion capture element coupled withsaid piece of equipment and display an impact location based on saidmotion analysis data.
 18. The portable wireless mobile device motioncapture and analysis system of claim 15 wherein said display of saidmotion analysis comprises display of a suggest training regimen to aidsaid user in improving mechanics of said user.
 19. The portable wirelessmobile device motion capture and analysis system of claim 15 whereinsaid at least one motion capture element is configured to integrate intoa weight port of a golf club.
 20. The portable wireless mobile devicemotion capture and analysis system of claim 1, wherein said at least onemotion capture element further comprises a background color on anoutside surface of said at least one motion capture element; and, atleast one passive or active visual marker located on said outsidesurface of said at least one motion capture element which comprises anon-symmetrical pattern of areas that differ in color from saidbackground color of said outside surface of said sensor.
 21. Theportable wireless mobile device motion capture and analysis system ofclaim 15, wherein said at least one motion capture element furthercomprises a background color on an outside surface of said at least onemotion capture element; and, at least one passive or active visualmarker located on said outside surface of said at least one motioncapture element which comprises a non-symmetrical pattern of areas thatdiffer in color from said background color of said outside surface ofsaid sensor.
 22. The portable wireless mobile device motion capture andanalysis system of claim 20 wherein said at least one passive or activevisual marker comprises at least one marker portion that is passive anddoes not emit light, or at least one light emitting diode configured toemit light.